The Sad Salomi Situation

Today was a very emotionally tiring day.  Our staff arrives every morning at 10:30 sharp.  Today was the first day that Salomi and Shashi have ever been late.  I should have known something was wrong by the time on the clock; however, I am an eternal optimist so I wasn't worrying about them.  Shashi, our maid, was the first one in the door and I could tell immediately by the expression on her face that something was wrong.  I said, "Are you okay?!" and she said, "Ma'am, It's Salomi.  Someone stole Salomi's bag.  All her money.  It's gone! Her id card.  They took it."  "Where?  On the bus?!"  "Yes, Yes Ma'am just now on the bus!"  Shashi had no sooner spilled these short details then Salomi came walking into the kitchen.  Clearly she had been crying.  I said, "Salomi.  Someone stole your bag?"  (Mind you when I say "bag" we're not talking a Gucci/Coach designer bag.  We're literally talking a bag - As in plastic...Wal-Mart/Target type bag!)  The flood gates opened.  Oh my Gosh!  It was the saddest most pitiful thing.  She burst into the most uncontrollable heart wrenching sobs.  I got her a tissue, gave her a hug and then went out to find our driver, Cladius, to see if he had anymore information because poor Salomi was a WRECK and couldn't even speak!  It was even worse than I had guessed.  Her sobs were all about the money.  I had paid her her salary the night before for the month of November and she had brought additional money with her because she had a debt she is trying to pay off and was supposed to be meeting up with that person to make a payment.  She wasn't concerned about her id card.  According to Cladius the thief would have just thrown that away and kept the cash.  (Not like the US where we would be worrying about identity theft on top of the missing cash.)  I'm not sure who she owes her debt to but I know she's been having "house" troubles and has moved out and is in a different place now.

Anyhow, I literally couldn't even be in the same room with her without joining in on the crying.  My heart just broke for her.  My poor Salomi.  She's become family to us.  When she's sad.  I'm sad.  When she's happy.  I'm happy.  She's such a bright spirit and typically full of happiness and joy.  She's such an easy laugher and if I didn't love her for being such a kind and caring person - I would love her solely on the basis of she thinks I'm funny!  Hahahah!  She LOVES my stories and whenever I tell her and Shashi events in my day they laugh and laugh.  They laugh at me trying to figure things out here in India and when I tell them about the adventures or dilemmas I encounter while I've been in town the literally howl.  Sometimes wiping away tears laughing.  So, let's be honest.  I know I'm not THAT funny but Indian people in general I have found to be very lighthearted and they laugh at the goofiest stuff (stuff that I would think was too cheesy, corny or just down right, NOT funny.....THEY LAUGH and LAUGH!)  So, typically, Shashi, Salomi and I have very light hearted days.  Smiling.  Laughing days.  NOT TODAY.  Wow!  What a dark, gloomy cloud that stood hanging over my kitchen when My Salomi was sooo sad. 

I literally had to leave the house because I was in an emotional tailspin and I knew I wouldn't be able to regain my composure if I stayed at the house with them.  I gave her a parting hug.  Told her, "Don't worry.  Please stop crying.  You're breaking my heart.  I will talk to Sir (aka Matt) and we'll try to help you if we can."  She still didn't speak.  But a simple nod of the head and a little up turned corner of her mouth where there used to be a big white toothed smile just the slightest sign of hope spread across her face.  I know how that is - You're trying so hard to keep you composure that if you say a single word the flood gates just open again.  I've always marvelled at people that start to "lose it" and then can somehow take a mental step backwards, refocus and move forward.  Newp.  Once I start to cry, I'm one of those sobbing blubbering types that my voice goes all squeaky high and you can't understand what I'm saying but what's the point - I've started.  I can't stop it and so I just have to plow through the tears and the squeaky voice.  (It's truly one of the things I wish I could "change".)  I hate that I'm so emotionally charged.  I hate that I cry at the drop of a hat.  It's my universal emotion.  Cry for happiness.  Cry in anger.  Cry in sadness.  Cry when I'm tired.  GOOD GRIEF!  It's truly the most embarrassing thing and I HATE it but alas you cannot control the sea - I cannot control my tear ducts!  Hahaha!

So, after slipping out of the house, I talked to Matt on the phone.  He, being the more rational and less emotional one, although he felt terrible for Salomi, he did ask the burning question, "Do you think she's lying?"  Sadly.  It's a question you have to ask here.  People get burned by their staff all the time.  You open your heart and for one reason or another (because they can, because they are needful, because they are desperate, because they have no other place to turn) they can take advantage of you.  In my heart of hearts, I believe Salomi.  99%.  There is that small chance that she might be "one of those people" that will take advantage but I have to believe that even if that were the case (which I don't think it is) God put Salomi in our lives.  We are blessed to have her.  In such a short time my heart is so full of love for her and if I knew she was lying that would be sooooo hurtful but if she needs help we will do all we can to watch out for her and take good care of her while we are here.  AND!  IF she was making all of this up - SHOOT GIRL!  Forget cooking!  Get out of the kitchen Girlfriend, Bollywood NEEDS you!  You got some CRAZY ridiculous MAD acting skills! 

Matt's advice was, "Try to talk to her about it when you get home and see if the story makes sense and if it's still the same story you heard the first time around."  When I got home, I had had enough time to compose myself and was able to walk into the kitchen like a Steady Betty and say, "So, how are you doing Salomi?"  Immediately, the eyes well up.  "Okay. Ma'am."  Meanwhile, Cladius is hovering at the back window waiting for his tea.  Apparently, Salomi makes a mean cup of tea and he gladly waits at the back window for her to prepare it for him.  They have a great relationship - She has nicknamed him "Cladi-o" and also calls him "Adda" or maybe it's pronounced "Ana" - It means "Brother".  I LOVE THAT!  I have great help!  In my mind it's like him arriving at her kitchen window and her being like "Yo!  My brother!  What up!?  Tea?!"  You hear all the time about how people's staff don't get along and don't like each other.  God was good and I'm so thankful.  Claudius, Salomi, Shashi and I are a TEAM and we all work great together.  MAN!  I LOVE THEM!

So anyhow, after I've asked Salomi how she's doing, she's tearing up again, Cladius steps in and says, "Our Salomi is so sad today!?!?"  She nods her pretty little head in agreement trying to keep it all together.  I ask her some more of the details to her story.  In her words between sniffles and tear management she told me, "The bus was too busy today.  I wasn't paying attention."   You can see the look of disappointment in herself.  The look of "I should have known better."  In her defense, even the most vigilent mind would probaby struggle to maintain their wits on the bus.  You've truly got to see it to believe the sheer amount of people that fit into an Indian public transportation bus is absolutely shocking!  Cladius told me that people used to hold onto the outside and climb up and sit on top as well but I guess they don't let them do that anymore.  So while she was holding onto the handle, her plastic bag was resting just inside the pocket of her purse and someone snatched it.  When the bus stopped outside our gate and she and Shashi went to give the security guards their id cards to enter into our development this is when she realised her bag was GONE.  Contacting the police is hopeless.  Poor Salomi.  Cladius also said that thieves would be paying special attention and hoping to get "lucky" knowing that people would have just gotten paid.

After talking with Cladius and getting the story again from Salomi, it just seemed like the right thing to do to "bail her out."  I was trying to figure out what was the right way of going about doing it.  I knew she'd be so grateful but also probably feel she didn't really know what to do or say and I didn't want to put pressure on her that she had to "react" to us giving her the money.  I had thought of giving it to her at the end of the night when she was leaving so she could kind of just accept it and slip out the door but then I also started to think that wasn't ideal because then her poor heart would be so heavy and so full of worry all day.  THEN!  I got an idea!

I have been getting our house all decorated for Christmas.  Salomi and Shashi keep walking around and saying, "Oh Ma'am so pretty.  Very pretty Ma'am."  I've got my Christmas tunes jamming and wondering if they think I'm a crazy women when I can no longer contain myself and have to chime in with the music and do a little BELLOWING of my own.  While washing dishes one day, Salomi said to me, "Ma'am.  I love these Holiday songs."  So cute!  I think I even caught her singing along to "Last Christmas" at one point!  Which would be GREAT!  I hope she finds her inner diva and starts belting it out with me so I'm not the only one singing in the house! ;0) 

So, I found myself a pretty purple envelope and a matching sparkly note card and I wrote on the inside,
"Dear Salomi.  Santa came early this year!  Love, Jen"  and I left it on the kitchen countertop.

She came into the living room where I was Jingle Bell Rockin' and said, "Thank you Ma'am.  You are such a good Ma'am (hehehe).  I am so lucky to be working with your family.  I'm so sorry to be causing you so much trouble.  Thank you Ma'am."  OH GOOD GRIEF!  Tears.  Again.  I can't take it!  I need peace, love and harmony.  No more sad moments.  When she said, "I'm sorry to be causing you such trouble."  That's when I lost it again.  "Are you kidding me?!  You're not causing me any trouble!  I love you and I'm so glad you are here.  When you are sad.  I am sad.  When you are happy I am happy."  With that we both needed a moment to "gather ourselves" and she retreated into the kitchen and I went back to putting up Christmas decorations and promptly walked over to the ipod to dj up a happy tune.... Hmmmm... No sadness allowed.  Gotta find a happy tune.  Instinctively, my fingers searched for Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas".   When that puppy comes blowin through the speakers....Well, that's a turn it up, shake your bon-bon - Feelin groovy kinda song and it was just what I needed to chase the blues away. 

I teased Salomi when she left telling her, "Better day tomorrow, Salomi!?"  "Yes, Ma'am!"  "Be safe on the ride home and don't let the bad guys get ya!"  (Not funny, right!?.....Laughing and laughing!  I told ya she was an easy laugher!)  Night-Night all.

David is Five!

Say it ain't so!!  My sweet little Buddy... my baby... the bambino, HE'S FIVE!  WHAT?!  How did this happen?! 

This was YESTERDAY, right?! 

Look at that basketball belly!!

Feeling Pretty Perky

Feeling Pretty Pukey!

Never gets old does it?!  Seeing a newborn baby - Mine or anyone elses for that matter - Always makes me choke up!

Proud Parents



Two days after he was born!  9lbs2oz of TOTAL CUTENESS!!

Bet you didn't know you could fit that many bodies on a hospital bed, did ya?!



Well, it all seems like yesterday but in reality - That was FIVE STINKIN' YEARS AGO!  (Get over it, I know.)  So anyhooooo!!  We woke up to a beautiful day in Bangalore.  I'm pretty sure it was God's gift to David so that he would have a GREAT outdoor party that day!

 Great Weather For Dave-O on his birffday!

Birthday Blessing

Blue Raspberry Jell-O

The party is HERE!

I gotta say - Finding party decorations in India proved to be quite interesting.  The biggest "flop" was the balloons.  Those things were soooo lame.  I recruited Rachel and Erica to help me blow them up. 

Problem #1 - There was no lip on the balloon!?  It was some sort of deformed non-ridge balloon!?  We discovered that the reason that little blip is on the tip of the balloon is so that you have something to lock your lips around and allowing air to enter the balloon.  As the girls would blow air into the balloon it would go flying out of their mouth!  So, when and if you got any air to enter the balloon you were considered successful.  Problem #2 - Cheapest, pieces of JUNK ever!  They were so thin!  The first balloon I blew up popped before I even tied it.  Rachel's popped in her face and Erica's just fizzled and flopped as the air squeaked out a little hole in the side of the balloon.  Grrrr!  SOOOOO!  Our balloon garland on the trees was a HUGE undertaking and a labour of love b/c that was NOT easy!  (Note to self - Buy balloons when I'm back in the US this summer!

While the kids went for a swim, Matt and our gardener, Happy, (As we call him b/c he's always smiling) worked all morning to get the safety net installed around the trampoline b/c we knew we'd have a slew of kids wanting to jump on it at the party.  We've had the trampoline ever since we arrived in India but the safety net, well, that didn't come with the trampoline.  We ended up having to order it from the US and have it shipped to India but when it arrived it was simply "a net" with no poles.  Dilemma.  Matt and Happy put their heads together and were able to create a very nice and safe perimeter around the edges of the tramp.  With that checked off the list it was time for party guests to start arriving. 

The first to arrive were our good friends from Holland, Jet, Elise & Bart-Jan.  Would you believe that within minutes of their arrival and just moments of playing on the newly fortified, protected and sound trampoline barrier....We have our FIRST casualty.  The irony!  I suppose if we had left the edges exposed with no safeguard - Everyone would have been fine!?   WHAM!!  Elise smacks her face and knocks out her FRONT TOOTH!  

Attention!  Attention!  May I have your attention!?  We have a missing tooth!!  Last seen in Little Elise's Mouth!  Now lost in the grassy abyss!!!

Rachel "Hawk Eyes" Weimann looking for the missing tooth.

Unfortunately, we never did find Elise's tooth.  I told her that I thought everything would be okay because we leave notes for our Tooth Fairy all the time explaining extenuating circumstances.  Sometimes we ask her to leave the tooth behind, sometimes we feel like asking what her name is or how many siblings she has etc.  She's really good about writing back, although, sometimes she's a little bit forgetful and doesn't come on the day we lose a tooth.  (Despite her scatterbrained tendencies - I think our Tooth Fairy is Lovely!!! Wink Wink!)  Luckily, Rachel, Erica, Michael and David understand that sometimes "Pearl"  might be a day or two late but she always shows up and never forgets to write us back and answers all our questions. 

As more kids started to arrive, Rachel and Erica helped out by doing tattoos and face painting.  The tattoos were a huge hit although I think the face painting kind of flopped after the children saw the first victims cheek!  (Best leave the face painting to the truly talented folk!).  From there on out most of the guests politely declined having anything painted onto them.

Tattoo Time!

Did the best I could with the materials I scrounged up and we had a make shift "pin the tail on the donkey" type game.  Everyone cheated.  Matt's two black socks I tied together proved to leak like a sieve so although everyone "claimed" they couldn't see - Everyone hit the bulls eye star in the middle!  The older and wiser ones tried to stray a little bit from the center so as not to appear so obvious that they were totally trying to bamboozle me!  In my attempt to salvage the game, I tried to spin the remaining participants a few extra times to see if that would blur their vision a bit but to no avail.  So, that game pretty much STUNK! ;0)

So what does one do when the children are a bunch of scam artists and I've been duped by a bunch of elementary schoolers!?!  You simply yell, "WHO WANTS CAKE AND ICE CREAM!!?!?"  Viola!  Party Saved!



Ghetto Games!

 All suped up on punch, chips, cake, candy and ice cream!

Aw!  Look at the Birthday Baby - I mean BOY eating his cake.  (Actually, he told me the cake was "gwoss" and opted to pig out on ice cream instead!)

I had made him a blue raspberry poke cake.  Apparently, he wasn't a fan.  Ya win some ya lose some, My Dear!  He did however eat his fill of the various ice cream options:  Cotton Candy, Butterscotch Swirl, Alfonso Gold and Cookies and Cream!  (Did I mention we LOVE Baskin' Robbins!!)

Presentation of Zee Presents!

Joan giving David a hand with his new Nerf gun! (Which I got pelted with NUMEROUS times throughout the course of the day!  Because it's your birthday...I'll let it slide!)

Mikey, Daddy and Derek's turn.

Nice, Mikey!  A direct hit!

We prolonged the fun for one more day and I went into the school on Monday (the day after his birthday) and he presented all of his classmates with a special birthday treat.  Something very American - Hint!?

"Oh. Oh. Oh. Whose that kid with the _______?"

OREOS!!!

Standing by his teacher, Ms. Zainab, as his friends sing "Happy Birthday"

I thought it was really interesting that in a country such as India where there are soooo many gods that are adored and worshipped that it makes my head spin - That after they sang the traditional rendition of Happy Birthday they continued on into a second verse.  Same Tune.  Different Words.  "May God Bless You, May God Bless You....."  I LOVE it!  I think we shall add this Indian 2nd verse onto our Birthday song from now on. 

The party ended on a high note.  Everyone had a grand time.  Even poor toothless, Elise.  Maybe if I offer Happy a nice Rupee Reward he might be able to find her tooth!?  I told Elise she might have a hard time explaining to her Dad what kind of crazy American party she was at?!  Comes home missing a tooth and tattooed head to toe! ;0) 

GOD BLESS YOU my sweet baby...BIG BOY...David!  We are so thankful that God gave you to our family.  What would our lives be without Davey-Doodle... Dave-o the Shmave-o...Daver....Dee Dee....Davey-Jamie.....Doodlebop....Deebs.....Yep, I've got a little bit of a nickname problem!  ;0)

Whatever we might call you at the moment - We want to wish you the HAPPIEST Birthday!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Safari....Sorta!?

Our safari plans were initially cancelled due to CRAZY rain!  So crazy in fact, we saw a family of three on a motorcycle with the baby sandwiched in between the parents that was getting POURED on.  The rain came on so quickly they didn't have any choice but to DRIVE!!!  As soon as there was shelter on the roadside - They pulled over.  We also saw a motorcycle wipe out in the middle of the road!  NUTS!!  Put it this way, it was not ideal for humans to be out in this monsoon-like rain so we figured the animals would probably be tucked away safe in the jungle somewhere too so we decided to re-schedule our safari for the next day.

The safari driver showed up with his Jeep and we all piled in "Indian Style."  Mikey and Matt road in the front seat.  Rach, Erica, David and I sat in the back.  No seat belts.  Just an open line of prayer to the Heavenly Father!  It was WILD!  It's a whole new experience when you are riding in the back of a Jeep, wind blowing through your hair, sucking in exhaust fumes, trying to position your legs as a human seat belt so that none of your children go bouncing out the tailgate!   

Our faithful friend, Shadow, ran behind the safari Jeep all the way to the front gate.  The kids kept yelling to him, "It's okay Shadow.  We're not really leaving.  We'll be back!"

Michael and Daddy sitting up front with the Safari Man

Driving in India is completely backwards, upside down and inside out from what we are used to!  Steering wheel is on the right side of the car and they drive on the left side of the road.  Although Matt has obtained an Indian drivers license and motorcycle license, I have no desire to drive on the roads of India.  My poor little brain would seriously suffer from sensory overload.  Even if I could retrain my brain which side of the road to drive on, I'd still have all the other distractions to contend with:  goats, pedestrians, cows, auto-rickshaws, cycles, stray dogs, buses....factor in the honking...yep.  I'm pretty much overwhelmed just writing about it - Let alone trying to drive in it! 

Almost as soon as we got into the back of the Jeep, David started to suck his thumb which is 100% indication that he is T.I.R.E.D!!! 

He started out by resting his head between my knees.  Within moments I could feel it, a warm trickle, slowly sliding down my leg....
DROOL!  Ewww!

It blew my mind that he was able to sleep through the madness going on all around us but he slept soundly until the Jeep came to a full and complete stop.  :0)

Looks like Erica might be the next one in Lala Land!?
(Notice my tightened toes next to David!?)

I was tense the entire ride on the busy streets as I was convinced someone was going to end up getting launched out of the vehicle!  And let's face it - The odds are stacked against him - If anybody was going to find themselves in a dangerous situation or bounce out the back door - It would have been David.  One moment sleeping - The next minute SORING out of his safari seat straight onto the STREET!!!  After about 30 minutes of being in my Mommy Bear protector mode, I started to get a cramp in my calf and a tightness in my toes.  Dear Lord!  I fear I am getting old and I can't just hold a position for this long without ramifications!  When we stopped on the side of the road to pay some tax or tariff or something like that the men of our family all got out to "take a wazz" as Erica calls it - I got out to stretch my legs.  The locals were looking at me as if I was a poor, crippled white woman.  Hopping around on one foot.  Waggling my tense tootsies and trying to kneed the cramp out of my calf...did I mention I too had to take a "wazz" but it's not so easy for a woman.  Right!?  Ladies.  Can I get a whoop-whoop if you are with me!?  I mean the world is not our urinal!!  You can't exactly just drop trou wherever you please.  Even in India - I've yet to see a woman just let it all hang out.  Men.  Well, should we really go there?  I mean it's a daily occurrence.  They whip Mr. Wiggly out whenever they feel like it.  No qualms.  You gotta go.  GO!  Ladies.  Newp.  It's keep your legs crossed and clench until you can find a suitable spot. And well, suitable here is debatable.  Which brings me to the "Squatty!".  As in the "Squatty Potty!"  If you are confused by what I am talking about, let me be more specific.  The Urban Dictionary describes a squat toilet as:  a low, ground-level bathroom fixture used for defecation and urination. More common in Eastern cultures, particularly public restrooms. 

So, you guessed it.  India would pretty much BE an Eastern culture so squatties are everywhere.  Not cool, not ideal but when you are in a pee or poo yourself situation and there's not a secluded place to do a nature squat (which I am not above taking care of business in the great outdoors if that happens to be my only option) but in India public places are often crowded and you can't just pop a squat wherever you please.  SO!  You use a squatty.  A squat pot can be anything from a hole in the ground that you drop and aim your "business" into, a cement type trough where multiple people can "go" at the same time or in public places you might find "modern" stalls like you would in most public restrooms in the US but when you open the door you will not find a lovely American Standard white porcelain bowl on the other side of the door you will be greeted by the notorious Squatty Potty!!! 

 An American Commode

             

                      VS.

                                

      

                   The Indian Squat Pot

 My experience thus far with the squatties in public places is that it is STILL a hole in the ground but it's a little more high tech.  High tech meaning - A hole with plastic foot grips positioned on either side of the hole.  As well as bucket filled with water and usually having some sort of cup inside so that you can "flush" your deuce juice down the hole.  Toilet paper.  Pashaw!  Are you kidding me!?  The likelihood of t.p. is slim to none so a word to the wise, always go to the bathroom BEFORE you leave the house in India b/c you don't know what you will encounter along your travels and By George don't be foolish enough to get caught without a napkin in your pocket or t.p. in your purse b/c you may just end up having to leave your sock or underwear behind (no pun intended! Hahaha!)

I would also like to point out that I think I have some sort of genetic deficiency and I would love to know if it's just ME or are there others of you out there!?!  So we've got a little experiment to do here.  I need you all to squat.  Not to poo or anything but try it.  Can you squat?  Here are the particulars...when you squat down....Keep your heels flat on the floor.  I'm not kidding.  I CAN'T do it.  My heels lift off the ground and if I was in the proper squat position I'd tip over backwards (God only knows you don't want to be TIPPING OVER onto the floor in a squattie!!  Not unless you are able to take a Bleach Bath or have gallons of Purell at the ready for purification purposes!)  So, seriously now.  I'm not kidding.  Quit reading and get up and SQUAT!    I'm waiting.  GO DO IT!!!  Maybe I just need more practice b/c you see people squatting EVERYWHERE here.  Not just for bowel relieving purposes but they squat to simply take a "rest".  They squat while working.  I'm surrounded by SQUATTERS!!!!  Quite frankly, I'm a bit baffled by it all.  I CAN'T do it.  When I squat my heels come up off the ground and hence hinder my squat capabilities.  I've tried sitting in the squatting position while I'm waiting for my gallon of water to fill up from the bubbler in the kitchen and I found myself rolled over on my back like a sad little beetle.

The Restful Squat

Squatting with a View

Even young children have mastered the squat!

Wow!  I have really gotten sidetracked here BUT all of this to say that I used my first squat pot on this trip.  I need practice.  (Which I'm sure living here for three years will lend itself to more attempts at improving my bathroom abilities).  After 45 minutes of jostling around in the back of a jeep I thought I wouldn't even make it to the bathroom.  I was pretty sure I was going to have a pee-pee trail leading all the way to the toilet.  I made it.  I squared my feet evenly on either side of the hole.  Dropped my drawers, lowered my derriere.  Hovered over the hole.  Steady.  Aim.  FIRE!!  Phew.  Not bad!!  I did not use the bucket of water and cup to "wash" my keister which I think is customary)...I rather opted to use my nicely folded toilet tissue I had in my pocket and then I simply used the water to "flush" out the hole for the next toilet traveler.

Erica giving a lesson on the Squatty.  She has mastered the Posterior Position!!

Once I had relieved my weary bladder we were able to get on with the safari.  We were on a mission to see elephants!!  Well, needless to say - We didn't see anything that exciting :/  The closest we got to seeing an elephant was seeing....

A giant elephant Pile o' Poo!!

So, we had our proof that elephants were in the vicinity but the closest encounter we would have on this safari was seeing one whoppin' turd.  Disappointing to say the least but we've got 3 years in India so I'm assuming all is not lost. We'll see an elephant at some point! 

We saw a hawk.  Whoop-dee-stinkin'-doo!

At this point we'd kind of started being animal snobs. :/  I didn't take any pictures of the many monkeys, spotted deer or peacocks b/c quite frankly when you've got your sites set on the likes of seeing an elephant or an elusive tiger well, everything pales in comparison.  Snobs.  I know.

How'd you like to be on post in this animal look-out tower!? 

I should say, "NOT!"

Boy!  What I wouldn't have given to see someone shimmying up that tree to get to that little house in the trees!  (I think that would have even been more exciting than an elephant for me!!)  That would have been like real life "Jungle Book" stuff.  "Mowgli!  Mowgli!  Is that you!?"

Goofy Girls

Although we didn't see all of the critters we were hoping to - Everyone had a good time!  Even though this picture is blurry you can see the girls were havin' a hoot-a-nanny good time yuckin' it up in the back of the Jeep.

The next morning it was time to pack up our things and bid farewell to our time in Kerala.  We had such a great time.  We got to celebrate our first Diwali at Tranquil with Nisha, Ajay, Samara and Zara.  I didn't remember my camera that night so unfortunately, no pictures of the fireworks and all of the children doing sparklers together.  Matt and I sipped our "tranquilizers" and reflected on our first Indian getaway.  It was a lot of fun!  The kids have already declared that we need to spend every Diwali at Tranquil Resort.  :0)

  Time for Samara to go to school and time for us to say

"Good-bye" (David is bummed he's not standing next to Samara!)

Bye Shadow!  See ya next year!

Erica and Swamee had a special connection.

Swamee, one of the hotel staff, LOVED the children.  The morning we were leaving he came down to the Tree Villa with his camera.  He wanted to make sure he got a picture with the kids so they wouldn't forget him.  SO SWEET!

Last moments with their pal, Shadow.

Ready to pile back into the car.

David and his Dosa!

Yep!  We enjoyed the food so much the first time around that on the way home we stopped for dosas on the OTHER side of the road.  Just as good as we remembered!  hahah!

Goofy gal!

Our trip home was shortened significantly because of the Diwali Holiday.  We made it home in lightning fast time (for India!)  Both Matt and I commented to one another how surprised we were as we drove down our street how quickly we have found a sense of "Home" here and although we had a fabulous time in Kerala - It was good to be back to our Bangalore "Home" again!



Adventures at Edakkal Cave

Another day, another adventure!  We are still in Kerala and heading into the Edakkal caves!!  This was my favorite day of our trip!  After taking a few hikes on the coffee plantation and at times the kids getting really tired and whiny about it all - We forewarned them that this was going to be a TOUGH climb (I had no idea just how hard!) and that there would be "No complaining and Dog Gone It...We will have a fun time!"  Hahaha!

On advice from the owners of Tranquil, they told us to get to the caves early to avoid the heat and the crowds.  We ate a fabulous Indian breakfast and then met up with Cladius so he could drive us to the caves.  Cladius had never been to Edakkal before and of course, neither had we.  The car kept winding around these narrow roads and we kept climbing, climbing, climbing.  When we came to the first parking area Cladius pulled over and parked the car and we got out.  (Big mistake - We could have stayed in the car for another 10 minutes and avoided climbing, climbing, climbing on foot!)  Hahaha!  It's all good, right?  We needed to burn off our breakfast anyhow.

Mind you - By the time we were seeing this sign - We've already been walking up a steadily increasing incline for the last 15 minutes or so.  Oh yah!  The buns were burnin'!!



I'm not gonna lie.  I was worried.  I mean, we hadn't even entered the Edakkal cave park yet and it looked like some of the kids were going to start dropping like flies.  They all had terrible colds (nothing like waking up in the morning and listening to four kids sniffling, clearing their throats, wiping away their snots and hacking up mucous...eww!  Can't believe I just said the "M" word but if I didn't use the "M" word you wouldn't have fully understood how sick and how DISGUSTING my kids sounded!)  So, they've already got a strike against them on this hike b/c they are probably only breathing with the capacity of one lung.  I kept thinking, "Great!  So much for the 'having a fun time' part of this climb!"

 

Ready, Get Set, GOOOOO!

 

Right after we entered the park, the kids saw this huge rock and it was "ON!"  They were ready to conquer the caves.

Stopped long enough for the token "CHEESE" for their Momma.

Oh, yes we are!  We are heading...ALL.THE.WAY.UP.THERE!!!!



The monkeys were a nice distraction during the "wide path" part of our ascent.

Some of these monkeys were a little too close for my comfort level.

I kept telling the kids, "Don't make eye contact!  Keep your head down and look submissive!" I was so sure that one of those Imps was going to attack the kids!

I had a friend tell me about when they were in the jungles of India on a trip how a monkey chased after her daughter.  Grabbed the little girl by her skirt, whirled her around and threw her down on the ground!!  Then the monkey ran for the hills with the girls....Popsicle!!!

While I worried about the monkeys "showing the kids who was boss."  Matt kept encouraging David to "do your monkey face!"  Geesh!  I'm just glad that the monkey didn't "Go Ape" and remained on his stoop watching David.

While Matt snaps a picture - Mikey sneaks a hug!  Aw!

"This is hard work!  Time to air out the pits, Rach!"

We kept getting stopped along the hike as people kept asking us to stop to take their picture with them.  Hahaha!  Rachel LOVED it!!  She said, "Mom!  It's like we're famous or something?!" 

Climbing and Resting

Once we made it to this cave we gave our hearts and legs a rest.  Doing good and lovin' it!!

Only one way traffic here.  Waiting for this long line of people to make it down so we can start climbing again!



We met some of the friendliest Indians on this hike.  Almost each and everyone of them that was coming down the stairs was smiling from ear to ear.  They all wanted to shake our hand and then many of them asked us "What's your good name?"  or "Where do you come from?"  One gentlemen in particular held up the whole line of people behind him b/c he wanted to know all of the kids names and ages because his wife (who was not with him) was going to be having their first baby and they needed a name.  (As a side note, the Indians think Erica's name is Eddica.  So, ya' never know - Sometime in the next nine months somewhere in India some lovely gentlemen and his wife might name their firstborn "Eddica" hahaha!) 

Even though there was a long string of folks behind the man looking for baby names- No one seemed to mind.  Everyone stood silently and watched or waited their turn b/c they too wanted to talk with us, shake our hand and make an American Acquaintance.  It really was the craziest thing!  I started to think Rachel was right!  I was starting to feel a bit "famous" myself at this point!  Haha!

And we're back to climbing again!

YAY!  We made it and the view was spectacular!



Lots of cool carvings on the walls inside the cave.

An elephant.

Shiny Happy People

Crazy-Deep Crevasse

"That's what she said!"-M. Scott

After we spent a good long while in the caves we started the trek back down. As we were descending we started to meet more and more people along the path that were arriving to do the cave climb. 



 I had to laugh when we past a mid-50ish couple.  She was large as a barge and he sounded like he'd been smoking 5 packs a day for the last 30 years of his life.  I admired their ambition but I really wanted to pull them aside and say...."You're in India.  You will find no EMT on your way up there.  No one will offer you oxygen or a stretcher if you keel over - I'm pretty sure you might croak or die of a stroke if you proceed any further!"

 The kids were TROUPERS!  Man!!  People kept stopping us on our way down as they were heading up, with skeptical eyes and they would say, "You made it?!  The kids too!?" 

One of the funniest things that happened on the way down was the masses of people arriving.  Again, they wanted to know our names and where we came from.  Then they started with the hand shaking.  Crazy-Crazy-Crazy hand shaking!!  I must have shook at least 250 hands that day.  As the throngs of people kept coming it was getting harder to shake their hands and keep moving so I started giving "high fives" instead.  This took the insanity to a whole new level!  THEY WENT NUTS!!  They LOVED it!  Everyone was squealing and cheering with delight and when I said we were from the US - they added clapping and laughing to the mayhem!  They were on top of the world.  Shoot.  I didn't have the heart to tell them - "Yeah.  I'm just a housewife from Massachusetts.  I have no reality television show or anything.  Really and truly - Just your average homemaker."  Nope.  Didn't matter.  They were loving it and Shucks!!  So was I!!  The rest of the way down that final hill, I had a spring in my step and a cheesy 'ole grin on my face.  Slapping fives. Making someones day.  Who am I kidding?!  They made MY day.  That kind of happiness and enthusiasm is infectious.  It was a great day!

David stopping for one last break on the way down and it looks like he's totally in a "Zen" state of mind?!  Hahaha!

  Hands down - My favorite day of our trip!  Hope we make it back to do it all ONE MORE TIME before we leave India! :)